You are the owner and trainer of gladiators. You have fought in the arena yourself, killed and survived. You were awarded your freedom and your future. Now you spend your days training the next generation of gladiators to fight ruthlessly and die bravely. The sun has risen and the arena is filling with spectators eager to watch life and death play out before them. Today men will die and legends will be born. Continue reading
Milton Berle said, “If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?” And why do I have no hair on my head, for that matter? Regardless of your personal opinion on evolution, which some see as a theory and some as a scientific fact, two thing are for certain. Change happens and we must change to adapt. We adapt to overcome and to move forward. In this game, you will transform one fish into another, but be fast! Take too long and you’ll find that change oftentimes rolls over those who cannot adapt quickly. Continue reading
Albert Einstein said, “Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.” Math is hard, and don’t try telling me it isn’t. It’s also wonderful. Thanks to math and mathematicians, we are able to explore our world, our galaxy, and define things we cannot even see. And it all starts with “1 + 1”. In this Puzzle game, logical thinking and simple math is all that’s required, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy challenge. Continue reading
Another month has slipped by like a ninja in the night…or a ship…or a ship full of ninjas. It’s May and that means Spring in Southern Minnesota is “kind of” here. Last year, we had one bugger of a snowstorm in May that took down trees and had many people questioning their decision to live in the upper Midwest. Throwing caution to the wind, as it were, everyone in Minnesota is now wearing shorts. Temperature be damned… Continue reading
Your animal park has been in a drought for over 8 months. When the rain clouds appeared on the horizon, even the animals looked hopeful. But when the steady downpour kept getting harder and harder, hopes changed into fears. The river is rising and you have been sent out into the park to rescue the animals. The majority of animals have already been saved, but a few remain. The lions, camels, giraffes, and hippos have been gathered together, but there is only a small bridge to safety that is dangerously close to being swept downstream by the flooded river. You must cross the animals quickly and in an orderly fashion before they stampede. Your mother told you there would be days like this… Continue reading
The Galipotes is a legendary creature that roams the woods. Many have seen it – well – parts of it, at any rate. Glowing red eyes that might be yellow…possibly green. And teeth! Giant teeth that are red with blood or yellow with the stains of thousand devoured corpses! Then there are the claws, which reportedly change colors constantly. No one seems to agree on what the legendary creature looks like other than it’s big, furry, and downright frightening! Well, maybe not frightening… Continue reading
President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.” This is exactly what Mixed Motives is about. You and your opponents are all attempting to complete different hidden motivations. There is no set path to victory and you might have to get others to unwittingly help you win the game. It’s all about subtle manipulation, bluffing, and misdirection. Be careful who you trust and don’t let anyone know your true motives! Continue reading
Isaiah Berlin said, “To understand is to perceive patterns.” This game takes it one step further. In order to be competitive, you must perceive patterns. Recognizing patterns is not enough to win, however. You must also have a fast mind and an even faster hand. This is a game that throws the players into a chaotic battle to quickly build, identify, and claim patterns that everyone works on simultaneously. Think fast and play fast to win! Continue reading
Johnny Lingo, a fictional character in a short film with the same title, said “The more you’re willing to pay, the more valuable the prize. The question is: Are you willing to pay the price?” Players will be tasked to collect certain “gems”, but the value of each is different for every player. What looks to be of great value to one person is worthless to another. The real question is, are you willing to pay more to get something of less value simply to win the game? Continue reading
Martin Scorsese said, “I love studying Ancient History and seeing how empires rise and fall, sowing the seeds of their own destruction.” But what path did empires take that led them to their ultimate demise? Did they become too decadent? Were they burdened with a faulty economy? Did they have poor political relationships both inside their own walls and without? All of these and more are possible causes that have led great nations to rise and fall. Now it’s your turn to create an empire. Build it wisely or it will surely crumble under its own hubris. Continue reading
Dorothy told us that a better world was over the rainbow and the rumor persists that a pot of gold can be found at the end of one. Rainbows have been and continue to be sources of wonder, beauty, and inspiration. Despite being nothing more than a refraction and dispersion of the sun’s light by moisture in the air, we continue to see it as more than what it is. Truthfully, seeing colors in the sky is pretty darn cool, but are rainbows magical? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t awesome. In this game, you can create your own rainbow of magical delight with friends and family. Continue reading
When I was a little geek, I played Paper Football with my friends during our lunch breaks and out on the playground. The game required a sharp eye, a cool head, and surprisingly strong finger flicking skills. This was my first tabletop Action/Dexterity game and continues to be one I enjoy today. There is something about games that allow you to physical interact with your opponent and game bits that I find satisfying. In this game, you need to be able to duck and dodge, using strategy and tactics to win. Much better than Paper Football. Continue reading
